Iran has agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for safe passage for a period of two weeks, conditional on the halting of attacks by the United States and Israel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the move on Tuesday night, stating that Tehran would also suspend its defensive operations if attacks against the country cease.

“If attacks against Iran are halted, our powerful armed forces will cease their defensive operations,” Araghchi said.

He added: “For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.”

The agreement comes amid heightened tensions in the region and follows diplomatic efforts, including appeals from Pakistan, to de-escalate the conflict.

The two-week window is seen as a temporary ceasefire to allow for further negotiations.

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Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has appealed to citizens not to disclose information about the movement of troops, describing such acts as sabotage that aids bandits.

The governor made the appeal during a visit to three soldiers receiving treatment at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital after they were injured in a recent bandit ambush that claimed the lives of three of their colleagues.

Governor AbdulRazaq, who was received by the Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Nigerian Army, Sobi, Brigadier General Nicholas Nemetne Rume, and the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Abdullah Dasilva Yussuf, sympathised with the families of the fallen soldiers.

He announced a donation of N20 million to each of the families of the three deceased soldiers and N5 million to each of the three injured soldiers.

“We are here to visit the soldiers who were ambushed by bandits. Unfortunately, we lost three of them and we have three of them receiving treatment in the hospital here,” the governor said.

“What we can do is to pray for them and support the families of those who died. May their souls rest in peace.

“We appreciate their selfless service to the state, to the federation, and to the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. For those who died, we would give their families N60 million, just as a stop-gap support until the Ministry of Defence takes care of them appropriately.

“Those in the hospital, we will give them N5 million each so that their families can take care of them.”

Governor AbdulRazaq commended the security agencies for their sacrifices and urged all Nigerians to support them in the fight against banditry and terrorism.

He warned that militants often mount ambushes on troops based on intelligence provided by some members of the public acting as informants.

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Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said that sharing bags of rice and spaghetti will not save the incumbent president, Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, in the 2027 election.

Atiku said currently, Nigeria’s democracy is being systematically weakened by a dangerous consolidation of power under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement released Tuesday, in Abuja, Atiku’s senior special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, said, “What is unfolding is not subtle, it is deliberate.”

According to the statement, at a time when over 30 state governors have been drawn into the ruling party’s orbit, one would expect confidence, openness, and a willingness to face genuine electoral competition. Instead, what Nigerians are witnessing is the opposite: a growing pattern of actions that suggest not strength, but fear—fear of credible opposition, fear of free competition, and fear of the Nigerian voter.

“Why would a government with such overwhelming political control still feel compelled to shrink the democratic space?

“The answer is becoming increasingly clear. “Beyond coercing governors and political heavyweights into
its fold, the Tinubu administration already commands the instruments of state power—the security architecture, the advantage of incumbency, access to the national treasury, the perceived sympathy of segments of the judiciary, and apliable electoral environment. Yet, despite this overwhelming dominance, there remains a visible anxiety about the opposition and, more importantly, about the Nigerian people.

“Because deep down, they know this truth: stomach infrastructure cannot substitute for public trust. Bags of rice, spaghetti, and indomie may offer temporary relief, but they cannot secure legitimacy at the ballot box. This attempt to reconfigure Nigeria to ‘Rice-geria’ will not help these urban bandits; it will end in shame.

“Opposition parties have been destabilized by persistent internal crises, many of which have been sustained through conflicting and questionable judicial interventions. Court processes have, in critical moments, produced outcomes that blur legal hierarchy and create confusion rather than clarity.

“Electoral processes have not been spared. Administrative decisions and interpretations have increasingly raised concerns about neutrality, reinforcing a perception that key institutions are being aligned, subtly but steadily, in favor of the ruling establishment.

“More troubling is the growing resort to crass and reckless detention orders targeted at opposition figures—actions that raise serious concerns about the misuse of state power to intimidate, silence, or sideline dissenting voices.

“These are not coincidences. They are signals.”

Atiku, who is a prominent figure in the opposition African Democratic Congress, ADC, said across the political spectrum, leading figures,including himself, Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Abubakar Malami, Nasir El-Rufai, David Mark, and Rauf Aregbesola, among others, were navigating a political environment that is becoming visibly constrained, saying, “This is
not how a healthy democracy functions.”

“Let it be said plainly: a democracy where the ruling party amasses overwhelming control and still works to weaken the opposition is a
democracy in distress.

“Atiku Abubakar remains committed to a Nigeria where leadership is determined by the will of the people—not by pressure on institutions, not by engineered party instability, not by the quiet rewriting of the rules of engagement, and certainly not by crass and reckless detention orders on opposition leaders.

“Democracy must not be reduced to a managed process.

“If the current trajectory continues, Nigeria risks sliding into a system where elections exist in name but competition is effectively neutralized—a one-party state in all but name.

“We call on Nigerians to recognize what is at stake. Power must never be so concentrated that it fears accountability. Leadership must never be so secure that it avoids contest.

“As 2027 approaches, the question is no longer abstract: Why is a government with such vast control still afraid of a free and fair election? Nigeria deserves an answer.

“And Nigerians deserve a choice”, he stated.

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The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives have arrested a 31-year-old man, Kelechi Wufurum, for allegedly killing a commercial bus driver identified as Ifeanyi Abobo in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.

The victim, aged 51, was said to have been lured to Ubima community under the pretence of a transport job, unknown to the minibus driver that Wufurum had sinister motives.

Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this while speaking to newsmen at the headquarters of the command along Moscow Road in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Iringe-Koko said the suspect and the victim had an initial fight before the former used a cutlass on the minibus driver near a forest and thereafter sold his minibus for N2.4 million

She stated, “He hit him on the head and when the victim tried to resist, he now used a cutlass and hit him on the head. The victim collapsed, so he now zoomed off with his mini-bus and sold the bus and his mobile phone.

“When the report came to the Command, the Police Special Operations and Intelligence Team swung into action. They did a discreet investigation and arrested the suspect. Those who purchased the victim’s vehicle and phone were also arrested.”

The suspect, Wufurum, who confessed to the crime, explained how he lured the victim into the bush, overpowered him, and carted away his minibus.

“I negotiated with a bus driver that we are going to work. When we got to the place (location), I used a stick to hit him to prevent him from attacking me. When he (suspect) collected another stick to me, I now hit him and took his vehicle.

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Former governors of the Southeast geopolitical zone have formally inaugurated the Southeast Forum of Former Governors and unanimously endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office.

The forum was unveiled on Tuesday in Enugu, with a communique read by former Ebonyi State Governor and Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi.

According to Umahi, the new body aims to provide strategic support and advisory services to serving governors in the zone on key zonal and national issues, irrespective of party affiliations.

“The forum shall be for all former governors, irrespective of party affiliation, so long as they have been governors in the Southeast,” he said.

In a major political statement, the former governors declared their full support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.“We boldly say that all the governors of Southeast are supporting Mr. President’s re-election,” Umahi stated, adding that the forum aligns with this position and offers its full backing.

The group also commended President Tinubu for key appointments given to Southeast indigenes and for ongoing infrastructure projects in the region.

They further praised the performance of incumbent Southeast governors in infrastructure, empowerment programmes, and security.

Those present at the inaugural meeting included:

Chief Martin Elechi and Senator Dave Umahi (Ebonyi)

Mr. Sullivan Chime and Amb. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu)

Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia)

Dr. Chris Ngige (Anambra)

Several other former governors were absent due to medical trips and prior engagements, including Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Orji, Ikedi Ohakim, Rochas Okorocha, Achike Udenwa, and Chimaroke Nnamani.

The forum plans to visit the Enugu State Governor and engage with the Southeast Governors’ Forum to foster collaboration.

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Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised concerns over repeated federal government approvals of trillions of naira to settle debts in the power sector, questioning their impact and transparency

In a post via his official X handle on Tuesday, Obi said the recent approval of ₦3.3 trillion as a “full and final” payment for power sector liabilities raises serious questions, noting that similar approvals had been made in the past without clear results.

“Let us reflect, sincerely and without sentiment,” he said.

He pointed out that on May 17, 2024, ₦3.3 trillion was approved for the same purpose, while on July 25, 2024, another ₦4 trillion bond was approved to settle similar debts.

“This raises a fundamental question: were the previous approvals mere announcements without execution?” he asked.

Obi expressed concern over the state of electricity supply despite these interventions, recalling campaign promises made by President Bola Tinubu.

“During the 2023 campaign, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made a clear promise that if he failed to deliver stable electricity, Nigerians should not re-elect him,” Obi said.

“Today, the reality is that power supply has worsened,” he added, noting reports that even the Presidential Villa could face disconnection from the national grid.

He criticised what he described as a pattern of policy announcements without measurable outcomes.

“Each time legitimate concerns are raised, what we see appears more like policy pronouncements than measurable progress,” he said.

Obi further linked the mounting debts to previous administrations, raising concerns about fiscal management.

“These debts were largely accumulated under successive administrations of the All Progressives Congress between 2015 and 2025. This raises serious concerns about accountability, transparency, and effectiveness in public financial management,” he stated.

He also questioned why government institutions, including the Presidential Villa, have not settled their electricity obligations despite budgetary provisions.

“Year after year, budgets were made and funds appropriated. Why then were these obligations not settled when due?” he asked.

Obi raised a series of unanswered questions regarding the power sector debt.

“How did the debt accrue? What is the actual total debt in the power sector? Which components of the debts are due to operators’ inefficiency and should be borne by them? Why have previous approvals not translated into tangible improvements? Who are the real beneficiaries of these repeated payments?” he queried.

He also sought clarity on whether the latest ₦3.3 trillion approval is distinct from previous ones.

“Is the ₦3.3 trillion approved on April 6, 2026, the same as the ₦3.3 trillion approved in May 2024, and how does it relate to the ₦4 trillion bond approved in July 2024?” he asked.

The former presidential candidate called for a shift from repeated announcements to meaningful reforms.

“Nigeria must move beyond recycled announcements and confront the power sector crisis with sincerity, transparency, and decisive reforms,” he said.

He warned that failure to act would prolong the country’s challenges.

“Until we do so, we will remain trapped in a cycle of debt and darkness,” Obi stated, expressing optimism that improvement remains possible with discipline and accountability.

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The Nigerian government has expelled American missionary Alex Barbir, citing concerns that his public statements could inflame tensions and deepen divisions, particularly in Plateau State.

The move was confirmed on Tuesday by Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central), during an appearance on TVC.

“Yes, so we’ve realised what Alex Barbir has done, so I must inform that Alex Barbir is no longer in Nigeria,” Essiet said. “He has been, we can say, removed and sent out of the country because of the work he’s doing, which is creating division.”Essiet linked Barber’s remarks to immediate violence in Jos, stating that two Muslims were killed shortly after one of his speeches there. She described his comments as provocative and said the government acted to prevent further unrest, comparing the narrative to events leading to the Rwandan genocide.

Barbir, a former American football player who founded the Building Zion initiative, had been active in conflict-affected areas of Benue and Plateau states. In collaboration with a US-based NGO, he helped rebuild homes for displaced residents, including 35 housing units in Yelwata, Benue State, as january 2026.

Local leaders praised the humanitarian effort. The traditional ruler of Yelwata, Julius Joor, said: “For the first time, private individuals have come to our aid in such a massive way. You have restored hope and happiness to our people.” Legal practitioner Franc Utoo added that Barber had done what federal and state governments had failed to do.

However, Barbir’s statements about the violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt drew sharp criticism. In interviews, he described the attacks as “not just some random criminality… This is a war being waged on people” and questioned official narratives by asking, “If there’s no war in Nigeria, what is happening?”

Critics accused him of oversimplifying complex issues involving farmer-herder clashes, banditry, and insurgency, and of framing the conflict too heavily along religious lines, which they said risked inflaming tensions. Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad and cleric Ahmad Gumi were among those who raised concerns.

In response to the expulsion announcement, Barber denied the government’s claims in a Facebook post, calling them lies and stating he had never interacted with Essiet.

He maintained that his focus had been on highlighting the suffering of victims and rebuilding communities, not inciting violence. Supporters, including COCIN priest Ezekiel Dachomo, defended his work and warned against efforts to silence voices drawing attention to the crises.

Under Nigerian law, authorities can deport foreigners whose actions are deemed contrary to the national interest or capable of inciting disorder.

The case has sparked debate over the balance between humanitarian aid, freedom of expression, and maintaining public peace in sensitive regions.

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A member of the National Assembly representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Sharafadeen Ali, has paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu in Lagos State.

According to Oyo Affairs, the meeting took place on Monday evening at the President’s private residence in Ikoyi.

Although details of his discussion with the President were not disclosed, PUNCH reports that Alli was being considered as a consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State.

The senator and two other High Chiefs, Bolaji Adewoyin and Kola Babalola, were also reported to have been promoted by the Oyo State Government to crown-wearing Obas in Ibadanland.

His visit to Tinubu is among a series of high-profile political engagements for the President, who is in Lagos for the Easter break.

Photographs of the meeting, which circulated on social media, showed the senator and the President in a warm interaction at the Ikoyi residence.

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The headquarters theatre command of joint task force (JTF) in the north north-east, Operation HADIN KAI says its troops have arrested five suspects linked to an “unauthorised discharge of firearms” that killed a 14-year-old girl on Saturday in Maiduguri, Borno state.

In a statement on Sunday, Amnesty International said the
secondary school student was killed on Saturday, April 4, after she was hit by
a stray bullet inside her home.

Amnesty International said the shot was reportedly fired by military personnel engaged in celebratory gunfire during a wedding ceremony at a nearby event centre.

However, giving an update on the incident in a statement on Monday, Sani Uba, media information officer of Operation HADIN KAI, said troops, working with the civilian joint task force (CJTF), arrested five suspects linked to the “unlawful use of firearms during a social event”.

According to the statement, the incident occurred around 2pm on Saturday, when vigilantes and an escort team attached to the chairman of a local government area (LGA) engaged in sporadic firing into the air during a wedding celebration at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Teachers’ Staff quarters, leading to the teenager’s death.

Uba said troops traced and apprehended five suspects, who will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigationand prosecution.

“The Theatre Command strongly condemns the act, describing it as unprofessional, unauthorised, and a clear violation of established regulations governing the handling and use of firearms,” the statement reads.

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